In partnership with the Atlanta Science Festival , Women in Technology, Science Cheerleader and SciStarter.com, this month-long citizen science campaign will highlight women in STEM careers AND simple ways for anyone to be a scientist by collecting data for real research projects. This year we feature four projects: taking pictures of nighttime skies to inform our understanding of light pollution, observing the timing of seasonal changes in plants to inform our understanding of climate change, measuring backyard precipitation to inform weather reporting and research, and contributing to decisions about the future of space exploration. Detailed schedule can be found here.

LIVE APPEARANCES

Women in Technology professionals and Science Cheerleaders will be on-site at the following Atlanta Science Festival events to show you how to be a citizen scientist and to share their STEM careers with you:

Samantha here! I want to share news about an event I’ll be attending! The Southwest Regional Pop Warner Scholars Banquet will be held on March 21 in San Antonio, TX.

It’s true what they say, everything really is bigger in Texas! And this event is no exception. With over 200 Pop Warner cheerleaders and their parents in the audience, the BIG topic will be education.

I’ll share my experiences as an engineer (and former AZ Cardinals cheerleader!) and shed light on related paths to STEM careers. In particular, I’ll focus on the unfortunate statistics on the lack of women and minorities in STEM degree programs and careers. We want that to change and I hope to my work with Science Cheerleader and Pop Warner is a small step in the right direction!

]]>http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/2015/03/all-about-stem-education-at-pop-warner-banquet/feed/0http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/2015/03/all-about-stem-education-at-pop-warner-banquet/Ivy League Brains: Brown University Science Cheerleadershttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceCheerleader/~3/nhmArDcGxrI/
http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/2015/03/ivy-league-brains-brown-university-science-cheerleaders/#commentsTue, 17 Mar 2015 15:30:06 +0000http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/?p=14331[ Read Full Story ]]]>Science Cheerleader Hilary here! While working on my PhD at Brown University I have had the opportunity to work with the Brown University Cheerleaders–an amazing group of girls who balance athletics and academics flawlessly. Meet the Science Cheerleaders of Brown University below!

Brown University Cheerleaders

Sarah Skelton (Dover, Arkansas)
“I am concentrating in Biology with a focus on Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Animals of all sorts have always captivated me, and my adoration for them expanded into a desire to protect the environment so they’ll have a place to live in. I feel it is our responsibility as humans to try and be good stewards of the environment, to preserve the Earth for everyone on it. I love biology because I love to learn about the forces that shaped everything that is here on the planet. The amount of diversity in life here on Earth is absolutely amazing. Thinking about all of the years of evolution that occurred to get us to where we are today is mind blowing! I would like to work for an organization such as the Nature Conservancy to help prevent further degradation of the environment.”

Bella Norvig (Palo Alto, California)
“I’m concentrating in computer science (and Italian studies!). I grew up in the Bay Area so I’ve always been surrounded by technology, but it wasn’t until I got to Brown that I really got to try out CS. I took one of the introductory courses, and was soon doing things I never dreamed I could do. After just one semester I made a program similar to MS Paint! Even though it takes a lot of time and perseverance to concentrate in CS, being able to solve new and challenging problems makes it worth it. This summer I’ll be interning at Udacity, and after graduation I’d like to work with education or in another field that allows me to help others. I’m also very passionate about girls’ education, especially in STEAM, so I would like to work on something related to that!”

Maria Burgos (Los Angeles, CA)
“I am concentrating in Health and Human Biology. I study biology and ultimately want to be a pediatrician. I wish to be part of the solution and combat the health and educational effects of poverty by influencing policymakers to level the playing field to ensure the best possible health. I love having the opportunity to investigate the relationships between biological mechanisms and the resource scarcity, environmental exposures, and limited opportunities that are ubiquitous in disadvantaged communities. My science background could help decision-makers improve the outcomes and the overall health and safety standards for minorities, incarcerated populations, and the undocumented. Eradicating health problems stemming from unequal access to services is my ultimate goal.”

Gillian Lee (Frisco, Texas)

“I am pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Applied Math-Economics. I chose this field because I enjoy working with numbers, and I love learning about both economic theory and the international economy.

I love my work because I love being able to apply my knowledge of economics to things I see or read on the news. In the future I’d like to either work in finance or be an actuary.”

Janice Havasy (Port Washington, New York)
“I am getting an S.c.B in Biology with a focus in Immunology, and I’m an EMT. I chose to concentrate in Immunology because the immune system is crucial to complex organisms, such as humans. While it is vital for human existence, the immune system is also beautifully complex and it’s interesting to learn about the many ways the immune system fights off pathogens. Learning about the human body not only allows me to understand my own body better, but also will undoubtedly help me in my endeavors to become a doctor. In the future, my plan is to become either a trauma surgeon or an ER physician. Either way, I plan to do pediatrics because I love children.”

Ellen Sukharevsky (Boston, MA)
“I am working on my degree in Health and Human Biology and I’m pre-med. I hope my concentration will give me more of a global perspective on medicine, as I am passionate about improving healthcare in developing countries. My favorite part about studying science and doing research is applying classroom concepts to practical problems in the lab. One of my long-term career goals is to help advance diabetes treatments, especially in children, in the developing world. As a doctor, I see myself creating clinical trials in genetics as well as working as a family physician in a global health field, concentrating on women and children’s health.”

Alyssa Garrett (Sammamish, WA)
“I am concentrating in Applied Mathematics-Economics to better understand and model the world around me. My chosen degree allows me to combine qualitative observation and quantitative measurement to interpret the world. I love studying math because of has allowed me to learn to think in abstract terms as well as simplify complex ideas. Growing up, I always wanted to know ‘why’ and ‘how much’. Studying math has allowed me to start to answer these questions. I am about to start a career in finance quantifying risk. Given the drastic changes our economy has seen in my lifetime, I’m excited to continue learning about the driving forces of the market and how to best predict risk and reward.”

Megan Ly (San Diego, California)
“I am planning on concentrating in neuroscience because it is an emerging field that is constantly being amended with new discoveries. Neuroscience intrigues me because it is interdisciplinary in the way that it combines aspects of biology, chemistry, and psychology, among other fields. The multifaceted nature of the study allows me to receive a diverse education that is applicable in a wide variety of settings beyond the classroom. In the future, I would like to pursue a career as a doctor where I can apply my knowledge to helping others.”

Aashna Mansharamani (Mumbai, Maharashtra, India)
“My major is Architecture in the ‘Self and the Society’ track. Architecture is a perfect blend of design and logic. It involves aesthetics, spatial relations, physics and personal engagement within society to understand and design for a site. Architecture gives the designer an opportunity to accept social and environmental responsibility while challenging systems of representation to communicate creativity, logic and the final product. In the future, I would love to design low-income housing for communities that need it, designing systems that increase access to health care. Another project I have been considering is the revamping of the slums in India. So much of the population would benefit from restructuring of these areas and with cheap local materials and local labor this would be possible.”

In partnership with Science Cheerleader and SciStarter this month-long citizen science campaign will highlight easy ways for anyone to be a scientist by collecting data for real research projects. This year we feature three projects: taking pictures of nighttime skies to inform our understanding of light pollution, observing the timing of seasonal changes in plants to inform our understanding of climate change, and measuring backyard precipitation to inform weather reporting and research.

Through citizen science projects, anyone can be a scientist for a day. In partnership with Women in Technology and Science Cheerleaders, we celebrate women who have devoted their careers to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). See profiles and learn how to participate here!

Women in Technology professionals and Science Cheerleaders will be on-site at the following Atlanta Science Festival events to show you how to be a citizen scientist and to share their STEM careers with you:

]]>http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/2015/03/2015-atlanta-science-festival-citizen-science-campaign-presented-by-women-in-technology/feed/0http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/2015/03/2015-atlanta-science-festival-citizen-science-campaign-presented-by-women-in-technology/National championship cheerleader and biology teacherhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceCheerleader/~3/ZpSkjZOFoIQ/
http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/2015/03/national-championship-cheerleader-and-biology-teacher/#commentsFri, 06 Mar 2015 19:28:23 +0000http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/?p=14322[ Read Full Story ]]]>Raquisha will be a high school biology teacher in August. She cheered at the University of Georgia. Meet her and other Science Cheerleaders March 21-28 at these Atlanta Science Festival events!

How do you feel about breaking down negative stereotypes about cheerleaders? Have you faced a situation where you had to challenge a stereotype about cheerleaders [or scientists]?I have had to break down many stereotypes in my life and I continuously make an effort to do so. As a competition cheerleader I did not face as many stereotypes because most people around me knew the difficulties associated with competition cheer. It actually helped me to gain a lot of respect from others.

Best cheerleading experience?My best cheerleading experience definitely has to be winning a national championship.

Best science-related experience?
My best science-related experience was creating my first game during a computer science class.

If you could rewind the clock and change your degree, would you? If so, to what and why? If not, why not?
I would have probably stuck to my original major of computer science; however, I would not change anything at this moment because I am now learning to code. I am thankful for my political science degree as I will draw from it when I am making policy changes to the education system.

What’s one thing people might find especially surprising about you?I was home-schooled until high school. Most people find that to be surprising given my personality and the fact that I was a cheerleader even during home school.

What do you do in your free time?Eating-everything, I love trying new foods. I enjoy arts and crafts-creating home décor, learning to sew, creating gifts for others. I enjoy reading books about spirituality, thrillers, fiction, and others. I love Grey’s Anatomy, Nashville, and House Hunters.

What are your plans for the future?
I plan to attend graduate school, start teaching computer programming to children, write a children’s book, and possibly attend law school. The possibilities are endless.

Why do you want to be a Science Cheerleader?I want to be a Science Cheerleader because I love what this organization stands for. I have spent a great deal of time breaking the mold and stepping outside of the box. I feel that Science Cheer is showcasing the woman who are following their dreams no matter what challenges they may have faced and I would love to share a space with such powerful and inspirational woman!

]]>http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/2015/03/national-championship-cheerleader-and-biology-teacher/feed/0http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/2015/03/national-championship-cheerleader-and-biology-teacher/Oakland Raiders cheerleaders and Sacramento Kings dancers talk science!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceCheerleader/~3/Ax84gQNFPHE/
http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/2015/02/oakland-raiders-cheerleaders-and-sacramento-kings-dancers-talk-science/#commentsWed, 18 Feb 2015 17:41:44 +0000http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/?p=14310We had a great time meeting hundreds of new friends (and future scientists and engineers??) at Family Science Days at the San Jose Convention Center! Click here to learn more about our appearance there.

Here are a few pictures from the event. Special thanks to the Oakland Raiders and Sacramento Kings for making it possible for their awesome Science Cheerleaders to participate. They were a big hit, as this Tweet indicates!

###

]]>http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/2015/02/oakland-raiders-cheerleaders-and-sacramento-kings-dancers-talk-science/feed/0http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/2015/02/oakland-raiders-cheerleaders-and-sacramento-kings-dancers-talk-science/Meet Science Cheerleaders from the Oakland Raiders at Family Science Days in San Jose, CAhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceCheerleader/~3/Z7kU7ngtqbk/
http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/2015/02/meet-science-cheerleaders-from-the-oakland-raiders-at-family-science-days-in-san-jose-ca/#commentsSun, 08 Feb 2015 23:36:04 +0000http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/?p=14297[ Read Full Story ]]]>
We are partnering up with SciStarter, Science Cheerleaders from the Oakland Raiders, editors from Discover Magazine and Astronomy Magazine, and regional citizen science project owners (AirCasting and ZomBEE Watch) at Family Science Days (a free event presented by the American Association for the Advancement of Science).

Test your science knowledge at our Science JEOPARDY challenge on stage on 2/15 at noon! We’ll challenge three contestants using the same Discover Magazine facts JEOPARDY used on TV! (Win prizes!). This is also where you can meet the Science Cheerleaders from the Oakland Raiders, including Wendy, who is pursuing a PhD in biomedical engineering at UC Davis and is a coPI of the popular citizen science project, Project MERCCURI!

We’ll post the segment scheduled to air on NBC Nightly News and the article after it runs in Popular Mechanics.

]]>http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/2015/01/links-to-todays-news-clips-cheer-for-science/feed/0http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/2015/01/links-to-todays-news-clips-cheer-for-science/Guest Post: Cheering for Science at Super Bowl XLIXhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScienceCheerleader/~3/lEWktiXYGZ8/
http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/2015/01/guest-post-cheering-for-science-at-super-bowl-xlix/#commentsFri, 30 Jan 2015 01:04:06 +0000http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/?p=14253[ Read Full Story ]]]>Hello, science fans! Today’s guest posting is from Jack Bobo, a Senior Advisor for Global Food Policy at the U.S. Department of State. Mr. Bobo is responsible for developing and implementing U.S. trade policy related to new agricultural technologies and working with foreign governments to address regulatory barriers to U.S. agricultural exports. Prior to joining the State Department, Mr. Bobo practiced law at the Washington, D.C. firm of Crowell & Moring, LLP. His education includes a degree in law, a Master of Science in Environmental Science, as well as degrees in chemistry, biology and psychology.

Not all ambassadors or diplomats work for the Department of State. The art of diplomacy is about building bridges through negotiations and tact when interacting with others. And nothing says tact like American football.

On Sunday, February 1, 2015, more than 100 million people from the United States, and millions more from around the world, will gather in their homes, at bars and at parties to watch the New England Patriots line up against the Seattle Seahawks for Super Bowl XLIX. As the viewers turn their eyes to this quintessentially American pastime, they don’t necessarily think of the players and cheerleaders as ambassadors of American culture, and yet that is what they are.

On Super Bowl Sunday, the players won’t be the only ambassadors on the field. There are also the cheerleaders. And while it may not be obvious at first glance, many of the cheerleaders are more than just cultural ambassadors; they are also ambassadors for science.

Nearly one dozen of the cheerleaders who take the field February 1st are members of the Science Cheerleader organization led by Darlene Cavalier, which promotes careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Darlene told me that the organization also aims to break down stereotypes as to what it means to be a scientist. The Science Cheerleaders talk to kids, engage people in science and perform at events all over the country, including the USA Science and Engineering Festival in the nation’s capital.

The State Department is also engaged in promoting STEM education and breaking down gender stereotypes. For example, the NeXXt Scholars Initiative, managed by the Office of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State, seeks to engage and advance more young women from around the world in STEM careers by preparing them to be the next generation of leaders in science, engineering and innovation. Acting Science Adviser Frances Colon, noted that this partnership with 37 U.S. women’s colleges expands opportunities for young women from Muslim-majority countries to obtain a world-class undergraduate STEM education in the United States in an empowering and comfortable environment alongside American women students. The NeXXt Scholars Initiative will provide partnership, mentorship, and networking support for these International NeXXt Scholars and their college-nominated American STEM-Sisters, laying a solid STEM foundation and providing pathways to future research collaborations and economic empowerment. Our Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs also implements STEM exchange programs to empower the next generation of women leaders. The TechGirls program, for example, brings tech-savvy teenagers from the Middle East and North Africa to engage with their American counterparts in the classroom and the community, working on their technical development and leadership skills. The TechGirls program alumnae have shared their tech skills with thousands of girls in their home countries, hosted conferences, and gone on to study at leading universities around the world.

Profile of a Science Cheerleader

One of the newest Science Cheerleaders who will take the field on Super Bowl Sunday is Kelly. Kelly is pursuing a Ph.D. in Psychology (specifically in Cognitive Neuroscience). She’s in her fourth of five years, having received her M.A. in 2013. Prior to this, she received an Ed.M. (Master’s in Education) in Mind, Brain, and Education from Harvard University in 2011, as well as a B.A. in Psychology and Spanish from Middlebury College in 2010.

Kelly was awarded a competitive three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Defense in 2013 to fund her graduate research. She describes her research interests as follows: “I am currently researching how sleep and stress affect memory for emotional information. I think sleep is incredibly interesting because we sleep for approximately a third of our lifetime, yet we know so little about it. I am interested in emotional memory because so much of what we experience is emotional in content, and overall, I am motivated by the fact that my research has particular implications for understanding and preventing the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (e.g., in our military veterans).”

As if working on a PhD and cheering for the New England Patriots wasn’t enough, Kelly also worked with the Science Cheerleaders to coordinate a research project that was recently launched into space. Last month, on the International Space Station, astronaut Terry Virts measured the growth of microbes collected by citizen scientists across the United States. This citizen science research (led by the Science Cheerleaders, SciStarter, and the Eisen Lab at UC Davis), known as Project MERCCURI, (link to spacemicrobes.org) investigates how microbes from different places on Earth compare to each other and to those found on the International Space Station.

Kelly and fellow Science Cheerleaders from the Patriots, Seahawks. and other NFL teams will lead a Science Pep Rally and talk about their careers at the Arizona Science Center on January 30 at 11 am, as a preamble to the Super Bowl in Phoenix! Interestingly, Kelly is from Scottsdale, Arizona, and began who science journey by frequently visiting the Arizona Science Center as a child.

Cheering for Science

Diplomats at U.S. embassies around the world will be watching the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 1st along with U.S. and foreign viewers. Not only will they be promoting sports diplomacy, but they will also be encouraging science diplomacy.

Scientists everywhere deserve many cheers for the work they do. (My wife is currently doing her part for science by helping to staff the Monrovia Medical Unit in Liberia, along with other Public Health Service officers, where they are caring for public health workers from the region who contract Ebola.)

Best of luck to all the cultural and science ambassadors of Super Bowl XLIX. We will be rooting for you all.